A Predator drone, similar to those in the UK’s expanding squadron that will remain under remote human control.
Photograph: HO/AFP/Getty Images

Britain’s military will commit to ensuring that drones and other remote weaponry are always under human control, as part of a new doctrine designed to calm concerns about the development of killer robots.

The move by the Ministry of Defence comes after more than 100 leading robotics experts wrote to the United Nations urging the organisation to step in to halt the development of artificial intelligence in weaponry.

The new doctrine will make clear that the UK opposes the development of autonomous weapons systems that could operate without trained controllers and traditional chains of command. It will be in line with similar commitments made by other Nato members.

The doctrine will see the MOD pledge: “UK policy is that the operation of weapons will always be under control as an absolute guarantee of human oversight, authority and accountability.The UK does not possess fully autonomous weapon systems and has no intention of developing them.”

The UK currently has a small squadron of Reaper drones – currently being expanded – which can be armed, but which are always remotely piloted.

Mark Lancaster, the minister for the armed forces, said: “It’s absolutely right that our weapons are operated by real people capable of making incredibly important decisions, and we are guaranteeing that vital oversight.

The Ministry of Defence insists that its investment in remote technology is now aimed at reducing the risk to troops on battlefields in the so-called “last mile” of combat. It is looking at systems to resupply frontline troops using remotely controlled vehicles or aircraft. The Royal Navy also supported the world’s first large-scale demonstration of marine robotic systems last year.

Over the summer a letter backed by more than 100 experts and co-signed by US billionaire Elon Musk warned against “a third revolution in warfare”.

“Once developed, they will permit armed conflict to be fought at a scale greater than ever, and at timescales faster than humans can comprehend,” the letter stated.